Human Development and Family Studies

Penn State's Department of Human Development and Family Studies is committed to excellence in research, teaching, and service regarding lifespan human development in the context of the family, community, and society.

HDFS offers an interdisciplinary approach to individual and family development across the lifespan. As one of the premier departments of its kind, we focus on child and adolescent development, adult development and aging, biological aspects of human development, family studies, intervention research, and developmental research methods.

Widener recognized with Jackson Lethbridge Tolerance Award

Sara Widener, a senior majoring in human development and family studies through Penn State World Campus, is the recipient of the 2015 Jackson Lethbridge Tolerance Award, an award that recognizes a junior, senior or graduate student for outstanding efforts to enhance the understanding of diverse cultures and create a community where all individuals are accepted and valued equally.